Sunday, July 10, 2011

"Before the Throne of God Above"

It has been a long time since I've learned of a new (to me) hymn that is actually old, historically--that I like, that is. It turns out that the evangelical community of the 1980's was ahead of me on this one, and more power to 'em. As I've recently learned from Eldest Daughter, this hymn text written around the time of the U.S. Civil War by an Irish lady named Charitie Bancroft was revived and given a brand-new tune in the late 20th century. Here it is as sung by the Haven of Rest quartet:

Some brief but intense googling has failed to turn up reliable information on the tune the hymn text was originally sung to. This new (that is, 20th century) tune is by Vikki Cook.

Here are the lyrics:

Before the throne of God aboveI have a strong, a perfect plea,A great high Priest whose Name is LoveWho ever lives and pleads for me.My name is graven on His hands,My name is written on His heart.I know that while in Heaven He standsNo tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despairAnd tells me of the guilt within,Upward I look and see Him thereWho made an end to all my sin.Because the sinless Savior diedMy sinful soul is counted free.For God the just is satisfiedTo look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,My perfect spotless righteousness,The great unchangeable I AM,The King of glory and of grace.One with Himself I cannot die.My soul is purchased with His blood,My life is hid with Christ on high,With Christ my Savior and my God!

Here is a post that has a pretty comprehensive list of the Scripture allusions and possible Scripture allusions in the lyrics. I haven't checked them out systematically, but they look accurate.

5 comments:

I think I got the "80's" thing from Wikipedia (the article on Charitie Bancroft). I wasn't able to find an exact date on the Vikki Cook tune. I did hear a story about Bob Kaufman having to tell someone to give Vikki Cook credit for the tune, but I don't know exactly how that goes.

The article's exact wording is "a hymn which was revived in evangelical circles in the late Twentieth Century." It could have been written in the 90s.

Bob Kauflin on the tune:

"Writing a song that sounds 'timeless' is a mixed blessing. On the bright side, there’s a good chance that it will survive the changing winds of popular taste and be used by congregations for decades. On the down side, people can assume that the person who composed it is dead and the lyrics and melody are public domain.

That’s what’s happened recently on not one, but two CDs. We received word that Matt Papa and Chris Orr had released a hymns CD with Before the Throne of God Above on it, only crediting the lyricist, Charitie Lees Bancroft. Then Shane and Shane released their Pages CD, also including Before the Throne of God Above. Only this time Shane Barnard added a chorus and didn’t mention Vikki either.

After a little research I got Shane Everett’s cell phone number and called him to find out what had happened. Turns out that a worship leader in his church had used the song. He was so affected that he asked him where it had come from. “I dunno. I think it’s just an old hymn.” He was half right.

I’m happy to say that I also talked to Matt Papa as well, and everything’s been resolved in both situations. Vikki will receive credit for the tune on future printings of both CDs. But I wondered how many other people might hear Before the Throne of God Above and think the melody was written in the18th century.

Since I know that Vikki would never bring this to anyone’s attention, I wanted to do a post on it to clear up confusion."

Huh. "The 80's" must have just come out of my own head after reading the Wiki article, then. Thanks for th ecorrection on Kauflin's name. Was Vikki Cook just a friend of his, or was she with his music company or something like that? (He means 19th century, I'm sure.)